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HUDSON-FULTON MEDAL 



OF 



THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 



EDWARD D. ADAMS, 



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THE HUDSON— FULTON MEDAL. 



FROM THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NUMISMATICS. 



HUDSON-FULTON MEDAL. 



DESIGNED UNDER DIRECTION 



OF 



THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 



ADOPTED AS ITS ONE OFFICIAL MEDAL BV THE HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 

COMMISSION, AND ISSUED UNDER THE SEALS OF 

BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. 



By 

EDWARD D. ADAMS. 



REPRINTED FROM 

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NUMISMATICS. 

« 

1909. 






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HUDSON-FULTON MEDAL 



DESIGNED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 

AnOPTEU AS ITS ONE OFFICIAL MEDAL BY THE HUDSON-FULTON CELEBRATION 
COMMISSION, AND ISSUED UNDER THE SEALS OF BOTH OKC.ANIZATIONS. 




lURSUANT to its authorized mission "to issue annually a series 
of medals commemorative of notable events in the history of 
this country or of persons who have rendered distinguished 
services in the discovery of America," the Committee on the 
Publication of Medals of The American Numismatic Society 
recently published the fifth medal of its series, being that in commemoration 
of the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson, and the first use 
of steam in navigation on the Hudson River by Robert Fulton. 

The subject of this medal was studied in the spring of 1908, and the 
essential elements of the design were then submitted to Emil Fuchs' of Lon- 
don, who undertook the composition and sculpture. 

Upon the completion of the design and its execution in plaster, The 
American Numismatic Society offered to place this medal at the disposal of 
the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission as the joint issue of the two 
organizations. This proposal was accepted, and, by resolution of the Com- 



I V.m'\\ Fuchs, the sculptor, painter and medalli.-t, of 
Austrian birth, a resident of London during the past 
ten years, and a visitor to New York during the past 
three winter seasons, has received the highest recogni- 
tion for his various productions. 

As a medaiUeur he has been best known in this 
country by the two medals he modeled for the His- 
panic Society of America, and by the medal made by 
him for The American Numismatic Society to com- 
memorate its Fiftieth Anniversary. His e.xquisite mar- 
ble, in low relief, entitled " Chansons Religieuses," was 
much admired when exhibited in New York three 
years ago. 

In England he has designed, by royal command, the 
portrait medals known by the following titles: <,)ueen 



Victoria, King Edward VII, Queen Alexandra, Prince 
and Princess of Wales, Princess Henry of Battenberg ; 
also the Coronation Medal (a popular edition, in sev- 
eral sizes, which reached an issue of 980,000), Science, 
.\rt and Music Medal, and the South .\frican War 
Medal. 

By similar direction he designed the portrait of King 
Edward VII, now in use on the postage stamps of 
Great Britain. 

Mr. Fuchs has also designed and executed, among 
other works, the portrait medals of Field Marshal Lord 
Roberts, Admiral Lord Charles Beresford. Governor- 
General of Canada, Earl Grey, Field Marshal Sir 
George White (defender of Ladysmith). 



4 HUDSON-FULTON MEDAL. 

mission, this design was formally adopted as the official commemorative medal 
of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. 

The Hudson design represents Henry Hudson and a group of sailors on 
the " Half Moon," watching the hoisting of some heavy article from outside 
the ship. As the log of the vessel alludes to sending for fresh water and the 
return of a boat with an abundance of fresh fish, the incident may well have 
occasioned the interest portrayed on the medal. In the background is a faint 
suggestion of the high banks of the Hudson River. In a panel at the bottom 
is seen the vessel with her Dutch name, halve maene Encircling the upper 
margin is the legend, discovery of O Hudson river by Q henry Hudson O 
AD- MDCix In the circles dividing the legend are an astrolabe, jack-staff 
and sextant. On the lower left, the American | numismatic society, below a 
circle bearing the seal of that Society ; and on the right, below a similar 
circle containing the seal of the Commission, hudson-fulton | celebration 
coMM : The artist's name, E. Fuchs, is inscribed below the coil of rope. 

The Fulton design is classical in its characteristic features. It shows a 
parapet extending across the field from which rise two columns with fluted 
bases ; from each end of the parapet sculptured bands follow the curve of the 
rim until they join the columns ; in the opening at the left is a view of New 
York as seen from the Hudson in 1807, and at the right the sky-line of the 
city as seen to-day from the Jersey shore. Between the columns hangs a 
portrait of the inventor, below which Robert fulton | 1765 1815 — the dates 
of his birth and death. Seated in front of the columns are three draped 
figures ; that in the centre, facing, represents the genius of Steam Naviga- 
tion, and holds in her lap a model of the " Clermont." At the right is the 
figure of History with a scroll across her lap, and in her right hand a pen. 
At the left is that of Commerce resting her right hand on an anchor. In 
exergue in three lines, first use of steam in navigation | on the Hudson 
RIVER I 1807 The name of the artist, E. Fuchs, appears on the step below 
the feet of History. 

To give variety to the design, one side of the medal, the Fulton, was 
treated in a classical manner befitting the education and character of the en- 
gineer, while the other side was given an aspect of dramatic action, as appro- 
priate to the daring navigator and discoverer whose career ended in a tragedy 
of mutiny and mysterious death. 

The details of the design required great care to assure historical accu- 
racy. Eminent astronomers were consulted, collections of instruments used 
in navigation were examined, and the identification of those in use three hun- 
dred years ago was verified by approved records and authorities. The artist 
made several visits to Holland and obtained official sanction for his represen- 
tation of the " Half Moon " and the costumes of her navigator and sailors. 
Engravings and paintings of about 1609 were studied, and a copy made of 



HUDSON-FULTON MEDAL. 5 

the form and rigging of the vessel selected as the type of the original " Half 
Moon " as now reproduced. A plaster model of the interior of the vessel 
was obtained from the marine architect who designed the replica now afloat 
on the great river. 

The spelling of the names as they were written in 1609 was a detail re- 
quiring much investigation. 

Heinrick was replaced by Henry, on the evidence that Captain Hudson 
was an Englishman, that his name was written Henry three times in the con- 
tract for his employment by the Dutch East India Company, and was simi- 
larly signed to that paper, notwithstanding the facts that the document was 
prepared by a Dutch lawyer, written in the Dutch language, and executed in 
Amsterdam. 

The proper spelling of the name of the vessel was not so readily deter- 
mined. The publications of Holland spelt the name " Halve Maen," but it 
was admitted that the ancient form and that undoubtedly used when Captain 
Hudson sailed from Amsterdam was " Halve Maen<?."' Having the highest 
naval authority for this latter form of spelling, the dies for the medal were pre- 
pared accordingly. When about to strike the first medals, papers were received 
from Holland illustrating the floating of the new " Half Moon " in Amster- 
dam, and describing the details of her construction and shipment to New 
York. In all these accounts her name was spelt " Halve Maen." Although 
in great haste to make a timely issue, the striking of the medals was immedi- 
ately stopped, awaiting a cable answer to the inquiry as to how the name was 
spelt upon the ship sent here. The cable answer from the Dutch authority 
was reassuring, as he not only reasserted his previous statement in favor of 
the final "^" as the form prevailing in 1609, but gave the information that 
the name would not be upon the ship at all. Upon the arrival of the " Half 
Moon" a careful inspection was made, and it was found, as is sometimes done 
in other departments of human activities, that the old adage "When in doubt, 
do nothing" had apparently been availed of, as, sure enough, the stern was 
decorated with a design of a new or crescent moon, but without any text in 
ancient or modern form to assure us, notwithstanding any possible doubts, 
that the design really represented the " Half Moon." 

There were likewise difficulties in representing accurately the shape of 
the " Clermont." The best evidence was obtained from the pictures of the 
port of New York of one hundred years ago, available in various museums ; 
and an important print of that period was used in making the design for the 
medal. The Clermont Committee of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Com- 
mission had much difficulty in determining the appearance and mechanical 
details of the successful " Clermont." Research among old records brought 
to light from time to time unexpected information, so that several changes 
were made in the location of the paddle-wheel, the smoke-stack and the 



6 HUDSON-FULTON MEDAL. 

number of masts and their rigging. Tlie plaster design of the medal, even 
after its delivery to the die-makers, was twice altered as changes were suc- 
cessively made by the Committee in charge of the construction of the replica 
of the " Clermont." 

In portraiture the medal is limited to the bust of Robert Fulton, repro- 
duced by the kind permission of his grandson, from the painting by the 
American artist Benjamin West, now in the possession of Robert Fulton 
Ludlow. 

In the case of Henry Hudson, it was concluded after most diligent search 
and inquiry at the British Museum and at the museums of Holland, as well 
as, of course, at the offices of the English Muscovy Company and of the 
Dutch East India Company, former employers of Hudson, that no authentic 
portrait of Henry Hudson exists. While it would have been easy to appro- 
priate a type of an English seaman of that date for an imaginative portrait, it 
was thought best, in the interest of permanent historical records, as such a 
medal must necessarily be, not to introduce into the design anything that 
required the explanation that it really was not what it pretended to be. The 
absence of any portrait of Hudson is undoubtedly due to the tragedy of his 
last voyage and the long concealment of his death. 

The physical features of the Hudson River, probably nearly as they 
were when viewed by the explorers, are outlined in the background of the 
" Half Moon," as now seen looking up the river from the vicinity of Grant's 
Tomb. 

The Fulton design includes the sky-line of New York as recently seen 
from the Jersey side of the river, and a view of lower Manhattan island from 
the.river, taken from a print of about 1807. 

The Medal Committee of the Commission was appointed to arrange for 
the striking of the official commemorative medal, to arrange for the presen- 
tation of such copies as are to be given to distinguished rulers, and to attend 
to the sale of copies to be otherwise disposed of to the members of the 
Commission or the public. This Committee was composed of the follow- 
ing named members of the Commission : Henry W. Cannon, Chairman ; 
Edward D. Adams, Archer M. Huntington, August F. Jaccaci, John La 
Farge, Frank D. Millet, Charles H. Niehaus, Hon. Samuel Parsons, and 
C. Y. Turner. 

By official announcement regarding its Official Medal the Commission 
authorized the issue of nine varieties of this medal, all from the same design, 
but intended by their size and metal for various purposes. The most impor- 
tant in artistic and intrinsic value were limited in issue, and designed for pre- 
sentation to the distinguished guests of the Commission ; others were limited 
in edition and issue to the members of the Commission and Citizens' Com- 
mittees upon their individual subscription therefor. Souvenir medals of dif- 



HUDSON-FUL TON MEDAL. 



ferent sizes and metals were provided for the official aides, the guests at the 
official banquet, the sailors of all the visiting fleets, and as prizes for school 
children and sporting events. 

Other issues were prepared for public sale, subject to a royalty to the 
Commission ; one, the four-inch bronze medal, selling at $2 each, was 
deemed entitled to appreciation as a work of art, of historical interest, and 
a worthy and enduring souvenir of an occasion of unusual importance. 
The other issues to the public were designed as pocket pieces or for per- 
sonal decoration, and to be sold at 25 cents and 10 cents each. The official 
schedule of these issues as finally made, and all of the same design, is as 
follows : 



SIZE 


GOLD 


SOLID SILVER 


SILVER 

I'LATED 

H.\Rn MET.\L 


BRONZE 


ALUMINUM 


4 inches. . . . 




Commission 

and Principal 

Guests. 




Public Sale. 




3 inches.. . . 


Heads of 

Nations and 

The American 

Num. Soc. (2). 


The .\merican 

Numismatic 

Society. 








zyi inches.. 




Citizens' 
Com'ttees and 
Official Aides. 




Official Ban. 

quet and 

Aquatic Games. 




2 inches.. . . 




Other Guests 

and 

Aquatic Games. 






Public Sale. 


ij^ inches.. 




Aquatic Games. 


Awards of 

Merit for 

Public Schools, 


Aquatic Games. 




I ]i inches. . 




Aquatic Games. 


Visiting Sailors 

and 

Public Sale. 







Under the terms of the agreement with the Commission, The Numis- 
matic Society prepared the original dies, three inches in diameter, and struck 
therefrom for the members of that Society only, two examples in native gold 
from California, and one hundred examples in solid sterling silver numbered 
from one upwards. The dies were then delivered to the Commission to be 
used only for striking such medals in native Alaskan gold as might be re- 
quired for presentation to the head of each nation represented in the Hudson- 
Fulton Celebration by one or more of its naval vessels. After such use these 
dies are to be deposited in the Museum of The Numismatic Society. 

The one hundred numbered silver medals from these three inch dies were 
offered by circular of July 27, 1909, to the members of the Society and were 
promptly taken. 



8 HUDSON-FULTON MEDAL. 

The Committee on the Publication of Medals having charge of the prepa- 
ration and issue of medals for account of The American Numismatic Society 
is composed of Archer M. Huntington, ex officio ; Edward D. Adams, Chair- 
man ; Stephen Baker, Henry W. Cannon, Dr. George F. Kunz, and William 
R. Peters. 

To protect the design from infringement, and thereby to enhance the 
value of the medals and augment the royalty on its sale accruing to the Com- 
mission, application was made for a patent under the laws of the United 
States, which was duly issued, September 7, 1909, and all the rights there- 
under were vested in the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission. 

By reason of the importance and distinctive character of each design, 
neither supplementing the other, and because the events commemorated oc- 
curred two hundred years apart, the faces of the medal do not properly come 
under the customary designation of obverse and reverse. There is no reverse 
to describe or illustrate the obverse ; each side is complete by itself. Chro- 
nologically the Hudson side would be the obverse and the Fulton side the 
reverse. Practically this technical relation will change according to the 
artistic tastes or sympathies of the observer. In order to facilitate the exhi- 
bition and examination of each side, from time to time as may be desired, 
some of the cases prepared by the Commission for the presentation examples 
have been made to hang or stand, so that the medal may be reversed in 
position. 

The medallic art is as old as that of Numismatics, and the examples that 
have been preserved, in gold, silver, bronze ahd iron, equal, if they do not 
excel in artistic value, the best specimens of ancient coinage with which the 
world is familiar. As in sculpture and painting, there have been periods of 
decadence and renascence. Its finest examples have been produced under 
the fostering care and generous encouragement of patrons of art in those 
countries where the fine arts have been most developed. As a record of im- 
portant events in all branches of human endeavor, the medal, because of its 
enduring materials, the difficulties of its execution, and the convenience of its 
preservation, has been recognized as one of the most reliable records of his- 
torical interests, and one of the favorite forms of expression of public senti- 
ment. 

This medal, like the famous Waterloo' medal in England prepared by 
the Royal Mint, but never struck, marks a development of the medallic art in 
this country that by the accuracy of its historical detail, the balance and grace 
of its composition, and the delicate refinement of its low relief, establishes an 
example highly creditable to the efforts of The American Numismatic Society 
for a better and wider appreciation of the glyptic art in its application to coin- 
age and medals. 

I By Pistnicci, the Italian designer of tlie St. George-and-dragon gold coins of Great Britain. 



j-J-BRflRY OF CONGRESS 

014 107 650 "4 m 



